HIV Infections ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Objective: To explore the characteristics of IR spectra of the crude drug Herba Sedi collected in different habitats and seasons.Methods: The infrared spectra of all the samples of the whole plants were obtained by FT-IR spectroscopy,the sample powder tablets were used,and identifi cation features were determined through comparative study.Results: The harvest seasons of the samples are remarkly related to the positions(cm-1),intensity or ratios of some major absorbing peaks of the infrared spectra from the 15 samples of several different months and 4 habitats in Hubei Province,China.As for peak positions,the peak values(1625?7)cm-1 of all the samples in spring are less than 1623cm-1,but in autumn(April to October) are generally more than 1628 cm-1.And peak values(1057?16)cm-1 of the samples of spring are more than 1050 cm-1,but less than 1050 cm-1 for the samples of summer and autumn.Moreover,the habitats of samples are also related to IR spectra to some certain extent.Conclusion: The harvest seasons of Herba Sedi from Hubei Province can be preliminarily ascertained according to the IR spectra features.IR technique should be paid attention to in research and identifi cation of the harvest periods of crude plant drugs.

Objective To investigate the effects of radiation on the apoptosis rate and expression of 7 apoptosis-related genes in well-differentiated human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-1.Methods CNE-1 cells were cultured in vitro.The apoptosis rates of CNE-1 cells under 0-,2-,4-,6-,and 8-Gy radiation were measured by flow cytometry.The mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2,Bcl-xl,Bcl-w,Bax,Bak,Bad,and Bid were measured by RT-PCR.The Pearson test was used for analyzing the correlation of mRNA expression with apoptosis rate and radiation dose and the correlation between apoptosis rate and survival fraction.Results The early apoptosis rate of CNE-1 cells increased gradually as the radiation dose ranged from 0 to 6 Gy,but decreased when the radiation dose was 8 Gy; the late apoptosis rate of CNE-1 cells increased as the radiation dose ranged from 0 to 8 Gy.The mRNA expression of Bax was upregulated as CNE-1 cells were irradiated,and it was positively correlated with the early/late apoptosis rate and radiation dose (P =0.000 for all comparisons).The mRNA expression of Bcl-xl was downregulated,and it was negatively correlated with the early/late apoptosis rate (P =0.005 and 0.039) ; but it showed no correlation with radiation dose (P =0.369).The mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was upregulated and reached the peak level when the radiation dose was 4 Gy,and then it fell as the radiation dose increased.The mRNA expression of Bcl-w,Bcl-2,Bad,and Bid were not correlated with the early/late apoptosis rate (P =0.058 -0.894).There was no correlation between the apoptosis rate and survival fraction in CNE-1 cells (P =0.064).Conclusions Bax and Bcl-xl have some correlation with apoptosis rate in CNE-1 cells,but no correlation between the apoptosis rate and survival fraction was observed.

Objective To carry out the quality control testing and evaluation for three digital mammography systems.Methods The performance of three digital mammography systems was assessed by applying methods recommended in the European guidelines for quality assurance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis and Chinese specification for testing of quality control in X-ray mammography.The performance of X-ray generator of three digital mammography systems were tested and evaluated.CDMAM 3.4 phantom with four different thickness(30,40,50,60 mm) were exposured in DR,PCM,and CR system,respectively.The average glandular dose (AGD) value was measured and image quality figure (IQF) analysis was performed in each thickness.Results The X-ray machine performance of DR and CR was in accordance with existing standard,however the standard was inappropriate to evaluate part of X-ray machine performance of PCM system.The AGDs for system DR were 1.20,1.42,1.75 and 2.20 mGy for 30,40,50 and 60 mm PMMA thickness,respectively.The respective AGDs for system PCM and CR were 0.82,1.19,1.33,1.70 mGy and 0.59,0.88,1.47,2.19 mGy.For the same phantom thickness sequence,the IQFs were 21.36,21.57,27.25 and 30.58 for system DR,28.02,29.10,35.90,and 41.24 for system PCM,whereas they were 39.78,39.30,43.85 and 48.08 for system CR.Conclusions The AGDs of all three systems were in accordance with the values recommended in European guideline.The AGD and IQF could provide an effective way for performance assessment and constancy checks for digital mammography systems.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of low-dose azithromycin with tiotropium bromide in the treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Methods A hundred and ten patients were randomized into three groups:tiotropium bromide group (36 cases,group A),azithromycin with tiotropium bromide group(38 cases,group B)and control group(36 cases,group C).Patients in group A were given tiotropium bromide (18 μg,q,d )in addition to conventional treatment.The patients in group B were given lowdose azithromycin (250 mg,twice a week) in combined with tiotropium bromide.The patients in control group were given the conventional treatment only.The courses of treatment lasted for six months.Results Compared with the control group,the frequency of acute exacerbation in patients treated with azithromycin and tiotropium bromide was reduced remarkably ( 2.1 ± 0.6 and 4.9 ± 0.7,t =18.5061,P ＜ 0.05 ).The severity of clinic symptoms ( Cough 1.3 ± 0.5 vs.2.2 ± 0.6,P ＜ 0.05 ),expectoration ( 1.0 ± 0.2 vs.1.7 ± 0.3,P ＜ 0.05 ),anhelation ( 1.5 ± 0.8 vs.2.1 ± 0.6,t =3.6342,P ＜ 0.001 ) ],life quality ( 29 ± 8 vs.42 ± 11,P ＜ 0.05 ) and six-minutes walking distance( [ 370.00 ± 14.26 ] m vs.[ 290.00 ± 12.85 ] m,P ＜ 0.05 ) of the azithromycin with tiotropium bromide group were improved significantly when compared with control.Compared with the tiotropium bromide group,the frequency of acute exacerbation ( 2.1 ± 0.6 vs.3.2 ± 0.8,P ＜ 0.05 ),the severity of clinic symptoms (Cough 1.3 ±0.5 vs.1.8 ±0.4,P＜0.05),expectoration( 1.0 ±0.2 vs.1.3 ±0.3,P ＜0.05) and anhelation( 1.5 ±0.8 vs.1.9 ± 0.6,P ＜ 0.05 ) ],life quality ( 29 ± 8 vs.36 ± 10,P ＜ 0.05 ) and six-minutes walking distance ( [ 370.00 ± 14.26 ] m vs.[ 330.00 ± 13.76 ] m,P ＜ 0.05 ) were improved over those of tiotropium bromide group.Conclusion The long-term low-dose azithromycin in combinned with tiotropium bromide is good and safe in treating stable COPD.Therefore,it is worth of further clinical evaluation.

Objective To explore the relationship between condition of hypoxia and prognosis in patient with renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC).Methods The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-lo( HIF-1 α) protein in cancer tissue of 89 RCCC cases was examined by streptavidin-biotin complex immunohistochemistry.Clinical and pathological data and prognosis of 89 cases were analyzed retrospectively.There were 66 males and 23 females,with an average age of 57 years.The patients were divided into two groups,the chronic pulmonary disease (CPD) group ( 19 cases) and non CPD (NCPD) group (70 cases),with 46cases in clinical stage I,15 cases in stage Ⅱ,26 cases in stage Ⅲ,and 2 cases in stage Ⅳ.The relationship between survival time and clinicopathological variables including the presence of CPD,the positive rate of HIF-1α protein,smoking history and hemoglobin level were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method.And the Cox proportional hazards regression model was build to analyze the correlation between each variable and survival time.Results The 89 cases were followed up for a median time of 19 months (6 to 84 months).Twenty cases died,and 69 cases survived.Between the CPD group and NCPD group,clinical stage,hemoglobin level and the degree of expression of HIF-1 α were significantly different (P ＜ 0.05 ).The median survival time was 44 and 71 months in CPD group and NCPD group,respectively,and the difference was significant ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The median survival time was 43 and 70 months in Hb≤ 110 g/L group and Hb ＞ 110 g/L group,respectively,and the difference was significant ( P ＜ 0.05).The stronger the degree of expression of HIF-lα was,the shorter the overall survival was.And the difference was significant ( P ＜0.05 ).Associated with CPD,hemoglobin level,the expression of H1F-1α were independent factors affecting overall survival of the patients (P ＜0.05 ).CPD and HIF-1 α expression were positively related to disease-free survival time,and hemoglobin level was negatively related to disease-free survival time.Conclusions Systemic hypoxia caused by CPD may aggravate the hypoxie state in the organization of the patients with RCCC.The condition of hypoxia and prognosis in patient with RCCC is negatively correlated.

Objective To investigate anti-ulcerative drug use in patients undergoing arthroscopic operation against stress ulcer. Methosds A total of 297 patients undergoing arthroscopic operation during Jan. to Aug. 2013 in our hospital were recruited and retrospectively analyzed with Excellspreadsheet. Results Among 297 patients in the study, ninety-four patients (31.6%) used AUD before operation, most (94.9%) administered by intravenous, and drug utilization index was 1.35. Ninety-eight point nine patients used proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in which Lansoprazole was prescribed most. Conclusion This study highlights the overuse of PPIs in patients undergoing arthroscopic operation.

Objective To evaluate efficacy of routine cleaning and disinfection methods for incubators,and put forward a feasible improvement solution.Methods 30 incubators used in a neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital between Decem-ber 2013 and June 2014 were chosen and randomly divided into baseline,control,and trial groups(10 incubators in each group).Baseline group and control group were disinfected by routing disinfection method (wiping internal and external sur-faces of incubators with water and chlorine-containing disinfectant),trial group adopted intensified disinfection method (wi-ping internal surfaces of incubators with alcohol)on the basis of routine disinfection,disinfectant efficacy of three groups were compared.Results In baseline group,unqualified incubators were initially detected on the fourth day of monitoring, all incubators were contaminated in varying degrees on the seventh day of monitoring,the detection rate of unqualified spec-imens was 31.43% (88/280).The median time for the initial detection of unqualified incubators in control group and trial group were on the fifth day and seventh day respectively,there was significant difference between two groups(χ2 =12.38, P <0.05);The unqualified rate of trial group was significantly lower than control group (15.36%[43/280]vs 32.86%[92/280],χ2 =23.43,P <0.05 ).Conclusion Intensified disinfection with alcohol on the basis of routine disinfection method can effectively improve the disinfectant efficacy of the surface of incubators,it is convenient,inexpensive and safe, and worth to be popularized in primary hospitals.

Objective To investigated the role of antithrombin Ⅲ (AT-Ⅲ) levels in the early diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in patients with sepsis and the predictive effect of AT-Ⅲ on the development of DIC.Methods A retrospective study was conducted. Patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from January to December in 2015 were enrolled. The patients were divided into sepsis group and non-sepsis group according to the diagnostic criteria of sepsis. In addition, sepsis patients were divided into 3 subgroups according to the international society on thrombosis and haemostasis (ISTH) scores on the first day: overt DIC (ISTH ≥ 5), non-overt DIC (ISTH 1-4) and none DIC group (ISTH = 0). Blood routine test, prothrombin time (PT), fibrinogen (Fib), D-dimer, fibrin degradation products (FDP), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) scores, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores and ISTH scores were recorded on the first ICU day. AT-Ⅲ was recorded during 7 days. The differences were compared among these 3 groups. Correlations of AT-Ⅲ with various parameters were calculated by using Pearson correlation analysis in sepsis group and overt DIC group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for diagnosis of DIC with AT-Ⅲ, AT-Ⅲ+PT were drawn to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency. The AT-Ⅲ levels of DIC patients were compared between early-onset DIC and late-onset DIC during their ICU stay. The change of AT-Ⅲ levels with time and prognosis in patients with early-onset DIC was compared between groups.Results Totally 445 patients were recruited, with 138 patients in sepsis group, and 307 in non-sepsis group. There were 20 patents diagnosed with overt DIC on the first ICU day, 115 patients non-overt DIC and 3 patients of none DIC. Twenty-five sepsis patients were diagnosed overt DIC during the ICU days. AT-Ⅲ level in sepsis patients on the first ICU day were lower than that in non-sepsis patients [(55.29±13.92)% vs. (76.54±12.31)%,P < 0.01]. Patients with overt DIC had a lower AT-Ⅲ level than non-overt DIC or none DIC patients [(43.85±13.00)% vs. (56.95±13.03)%, (68.00±16.52)%, bothP < 0.05]. It was shown by Pearson correlation analysis that AT-Ⅲ level of sepsis patients on the first ICU day was negatively correlated to ISTH score and PT (r value were -0.467, -0.654, bothP < 0.01). AT-Ⅲ level of overt DIC patient on the first ICU day was negatively correlated with PT (r = -0.675,P = 0.001). It was shown by ROC curve that area under ROC curve (AUC) of AT-Ⅲ combined with PT for diagnosis overt DIC in sepsis patients was higher than that of AT-Ⅲ or PT alone (0.843 vs. 0.763, 0.834), the sensitivity 90.0%, specificity 73.7%. The cut-off value for overt DIC diagnosis in sepsis patients of AT-Ⅲ level alone was 48.5%, sensitivity was 78.0%, specificity was 70.0%. On the first ICU day, AT-Ⅲ level was risen when ISTH score improved in patients with sepsis. There was similar change of AT-Ⅲ level between patients with early-onset DIC and late-onset DIC. AT-Ⅲ level increased with DIC improvement.Conclusion AT-Ⅲ level can be used for diagnosing sepsis-associated overt DIC independently or with a combination of PT. When ISTH score improved, AT-Ⅲ level was risen in patients with sepsis associated DIC.

Objective To investigate the expression of recombinant IL-37b protein and removal of the endotoxin, and identify its biological activity.Methods The prokaryotic expression vector pET28/IL-37b was constructed and to transform Escherichia coli (E.coli) Rosetta.After induction with IPTG, the recombinant protein was purified through Ni2+-NTA gel column and identified by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie brilliant blue staining.Then, the endotoxin protein was removed and was treated with LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.The culture supernatant was collected.The expression of IL-6 was detected by ELISA and the biological activity of the protein was identified.Results The recombinant IL-37b with high purity was expressed and the endotoxin produced by prokaryotic expression was reduced, and it was identified to have good biological activity.Conclusions In this study a recombinant IL-37b protein with high biological activity is successfully obtained.